The CMS Career Technical Education department developed a new initiative to bring Career Exploration Awareness to middle school students. On Thursday, September 28th Middle School Career Technical Educators came together at the Atrium to learn to be Career Exploration Coaches (CEC) for their individual middle schools. The educators were presented with opportunities to bring intentional career exploration and awareness to the middle school student to encourage career exploration at a pivotal time in their development, and keep students engaged in school, and help them develop a better self-awareness.
The Career Exploration Coaches were given tools to assist with the development of a student center career assessment in grades 7 and 8. The students will choose 2-3 careers and career pathways that will lead them to identifying high school pathways of their interest. The Career Exploration Coach will develop a team at their perspective schools to implement this initiative.
Career Exploration Coaches from selected schools were also presented with Virtual Reality Goggles and were taught on the implementation of Virtual Reality Goggles that focuses on careers. These coaches were instructed on the use and care of the VR goggles and the coaches will train the teachers at their schools on the use of the goggles in their classroom.
The Career Exploration Coaches were also presented with presentations by CMSGO Beable platform. The students will use a technological platform that will assist the students with identifying jobs that best suit them and identify the reading skills that are needed for their jobs of interest. Junior Achievement of the Carolinas also presented the educators with opportunities for the middle school students to experience hands on education in personal financial planning and career exploration. These programs help the students to connect the dots between what they have learned in school and interactive stimulation that provides real world experiences.
CTE Assistant Director Brian Elliott said, “The Career Exploration Coach will facilitate career exploration of the middle school student through many opportunities including field trips, guest speakers, and presentations which will provide a cornerstone to the development of educational, employment outcomes, and keeping the student engaged in school”. The earlier the student starts considering careers, the more prepared they will be to start making choices and decisions for their future.